More Videos
- Are Gas Prices Still Scaring Car Buyers?
- Ford Passes Toyota For #2 In The U.S.
- Studs, Duds, And The Musical Chairs In Autoland
- Going Fast. Deals And Models Harder To Find
- GM Enters Stretch Run To Exit Bankruptcy
- Marchionne's Silence Speaks Volumes
- Texting And Driving Worse Than Drinking and Driving
- Ford's Favored Status
- The Electric Car Race Heats Up
- The Big Global Auto Shake-Up
|
CNBC'S MOST SHARED
- 'We're in the Middle of a Crash': Black Swan
- The Rising Mountain of Debt May Be the Next Crisis
- Latvian Banker Taking Souls as Collateral
- SEC May Reinstate Rules for Short-Selling Stocks
- Your First Move For Monday July 6th
- Cuddle Parties Heat Up
- Malaysia PM Speaks to CNBC
- Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Will Resign
- The Worst Expected 2010 State Budget Gaps
- Best Cities For New Grads
- Fireworks At Pharma's Market
- Value of Warren Buffett's Annual Gift to Gates Foundation Falls Along With Berkshire's Stock
- Michael Jackson: The Music And The Money
- Five Stock Picks for This Market
- Realities of the New Obama Refis
- Weak Dollar Means Gold at $1,040: Strategist
- Court Ruling Could Mean Trouble for TiVo
- Lance, Please Back Out Of Tour
- TeleMedicine Gets An Apple App Store Facelift
- Schwarzenegger Signals Key Budget Concession
- Palin's Resignation May Hurt Her Future
- North Korea Fires 7 Missiles Off East Coast
- The Rising Mountain of Debt May Be the Next Crisis
- Drug Bust Nets Heroin Stuffed in Build-A-Bear Toys
- For Banks, Wads of Cash and Loads of Trouble
- SEC May Reinstate Rules for Short-Selling Stocks
- Vatican Runs Deficit Amid Economic Crisis
- Earnings Season: A Likely Game-Changer
RSS FEED
Text Size 
 |
Source: toyota.com Toyota Prius |
I suspected that higher gas prices have probably kept demand and prices up for hybrids, so I asked the folks at J.D. Power's Power Information Network and Kelley Blue Book to run the numbers.
What I found comparing the last 2 months with March/April of last year is what you'd expect with higher gas prices: hybrids are selling for more. Not only that, but the increases and gap in prices between hybrids and comparable standard models means hybrid owners will take longer to recoup their money in gas savings.
Seven of the 10 hybrids on sale the last two months are selling at a higher price compared to the same time last year.
Here's the list of transaction prices according to the Power Information Network.
Toyota [TM
Loading...
()
] Highlander Hybrid (up) $5,482
Saturn VUE Hybrid. (Up) $3,261
Ford [F
Loading...
()
] Escape Hybrid. (Up) $2,327
Mercury Mariner Hybrid. (Up) $2,053
Lexus RX 400H. (Up) $576
Toyota Prius. (Up) $301
Nissan Altima Hybrid. (Up) $ 78
The 3 hybrids selling for less:
Lexus GS 450H. (Down) $2,215
Toyota Camry Hybrid. (Down) $749
Honda [HMC
Loading...
()
] Civic Hybrid. (Down) $22
With gas at almost $4 a gallon, I'm not surprised hybrids are selling for more. But here's the kicker: the latest data shows people buying most hybrids will take even longer to make up the "premium" or higher price they are paying compared to standard models. For example, according to Edmunds.com, Prius owners will need 3.5 years of gas savings to make up the premium they are paying now.
According to Edmunds.com, the following five all take longer to "break even" than a year ago.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid. 12 years
Ford Escape Hybrid. 7.3 yrs
Saturn VUE. 7.1. Yrs
Mercury Mariner Hybrid. 6.4 Yrs.
Honda Civic Hybrid. 4.8 yrs
Now, I don't begrudge someone who wants to pay more to drive a hybrid. Just as I have no issue with someone who wants to tool around in a HUMMER. To each their own, as they say. But these numbers show many buyers don't have a problem with paying more, and taking longer to make up the difference that comes with a hybrid.
Questions? Comments?
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes